Automatic switching network points based on configuration profiles

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus to reconfigure parameters for establishing a link with a new host after a computer is moved to a new location or a new network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/261,061, filed on Oct. 27, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/569,576, filed on May 10, 2000, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,961,762, issued on Nov. 1, 2005, which claims the benefit ofthe earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/182,391,filed Feb. 14, 2000, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to providing wireless network access,and more particularly to automatic reconfiguration of hardware andnetwork parameters for a mobile computer in a wireless network.

BACKGROUND

There are growing demands for mobile Internet access. Conventionalcomputer systems are commonly configured in local area networks. Amobile computer may use a standard PCMCIA network card to connect to thelocal area network. The PCMCIA network card typically includes atelephony modem that can be physically connected by network cable to atelephone line. Once connected, nodes within the network communicatewith one another through air and space using radio, microwave, andinfrared frequencies in the megacycle/second or kilomegacycle/secondranges, or through other well-known techniques in the field such aspoint-to-point laser systems. However, the network cable connectionrestricts the computers' mobility because these computers need to bephysically connected to a “hub” or “port.”

One promising solution for providing network access to mobile computersis the Wireless Network Interface Card (WNIC). The WNIC eliminates theneed for network cables, and thus allows for more user mobility. Armedwith a WNIC, a node in the wireless network, such as a notebookcomputer, can be as far as 150 feet away from the rest of the network,depending on the composition and thickness of the walls in the buildingwhere the wireless local area network (WLAN) is deployed. The WNIC cardscommunicate with one another through radio waves, and the transmissionrate can be as high as 11 Mbps.

The WNIC works in two modes: infrastructure mode and ad hoc mode. In theinfrastructure mode, a WNIC communicates with the network through anAccess Point (AP) devices. In the ad hoc mode, the WNIC's communicatewith one another directly without using AP devices.

Despite the mobility, nodes equipped with a WNIC still face problemsregarding hardware and network configurations. When a mobile computermoves between multiple AP devices, or switches from infrastructure modeto ad hoc mode, the mobile computer is typically disconnected and thenreconnected. The mobile computer subsequently needs to be manuallyreconfigured by the user for proper connection to a new system.Therefore, there exists a need for a method and apparatus toautomatically reconfigure the WNIC contained within a computer when thecomputer moves between AP devices within a network, and/or when thecomputer moves outside the network to connect to a different network.

SUMMARY

This invention provides user mobility in reconfiguring the networkenvironment as a user moves to locations controlled by different APdevices within a wireless local area network (WLAN), or as the usermoves to different locations not necessarily within the same WLAN. Asystem is provided that constantly scans the wireless networkenvironment to detect changes in an existing AP device or the presenceof a new AP device. The system automatically reconfigures the wirelesshardware parameters and network configuration parameters when it detectschanges in the quality of an established link by selecting a mostsuitable working profile in a profile database. By combiningauto-sensing and the user profile management system, the systemalleviates the need for users to manually adjust their configuration inorder to communicate with a network when it encounters multiple APenvironments.

In one aspect, the invention features a method to configure parametersafter a computer is moved to a new location. The method includes stepsof examining an established link for a need to establish a new link,establishing the new link by selecting a network profile from aplurality of network profiles stored in a profile database, the networkprofile containing a plurality of configuration parameters forestablishing links, and reconfiguring parameters for a current networksetting automatically without user input.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to an apparatus having acomputer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying program instructionsfor configuring a computer after the computer is moved to a newlocation, the program instructions including instructions operable forcausing a computer to examine an established link for a need toestablish a new link. To establish the new link by selecting a networkprofile from a plurality of network profiles stored in a profiledatabase, the network profile having a plurality of configurationparameters for establishing links, and reconfigure a current networksetting.

In yet another aspect, the invention is directed to a computer readablememory which includes a reconfiguration apparatus consisting of aprofile database to store a plurality of network profiles containingreconfiguration parameters for reconfiguring a network environment for anode in a network after the node is relocated to a different location. Adetection process to examine the quality of an established link on anode, and a selector process, operatively coupled to the profiledatabase to select in response to a signal from the detection unit, anext profile from the profile database for establishing a suitablenetwork environment for the node. The plurality of network profiles maybe stored by priority in the profile database.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to a computer readablememory which includes a reconfiguration apparatus having an auto-sensingprocess to detect changes in a network environment by checking for aconnection, an AP device and a quality of the connection, and a userprofile management process to step through automatically a plurality ofparameters associated with a selected profile to communicated with thenetwork based on plurality of parameters.

Various implementations of the invention may include one or more of thefollowing features. The method where the examining step may be repeatedonce every three seconds. The establishing step may include testing eachnetwork profile from the plurality of network profiles until the newlink is established. The establishing step may include establishing thenew link with an access point including issuing a soft boot command ornew link with a wireless card. The reconfiguring step may furtherconsist of searching for a dynamic TCP/IP setting for a currentlocation, and if found, releasing and renewing a current IP. It mayreceive and return packets from and to a wireless card driver. Theprogram instructions further may have instructions to cause the computerto examine the established link once every three seconds, it may haveinstructions to cause the computer to test each network profile from theplurality of network profiles until the new link is established. Theprogram instructions may have instructions to cause the computer toestablish the new link with an access point by issuing a soft bootcommand or a new link with a wireless card. The program instruction maycause the computer to reconfigure and may search for a static TCP/IPsetting for a current location, it may release a current IP, renew thecurrent IP, and may receive and return packets from and to a wirelesscard driver. The reconfiguration parameters may have SSID, associatedaddress and channel, IP address, subnet mask, and gateway. Theparameters may further have a domain name and DNS address. The node maycommunicate with other nodes in the network through access points or inan ad hoc mode. The node may support encrypted information and the nodemay run in power saving mode.

Aspects of the invention can include one or more of the followingadvantages. A system is provided that eliminates the need for manualmodifications of the WNIC hardware and network parameters when a node onthe wireless network is moved. Manual reconfiguration of the parametersis a tedious process, and the automation of this process willundoubtedly increase the popularity of the use of WNIC's in the future.The system is versatile, in that, the automatic reconfiguration is notonly provided when a node connects to a different AP device within thesame network, but also when a node moves outside the network, orconnects to the network without an AP device.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of network configurations suitable forautomatic reconfiguration of software/network connection parameters.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the various interactions of thesoftware and hardware components of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a screen shot of a reconfiguration dialog box.

FIG. 4(A) is a screen shot of the first of the two dialog boxes foradding a new profile.

FIG. 4(B) is a screen shot of the second of the two dialog boxes foradding a new profile.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for automaticallyreconfiguring the parameters of a node in a LAN as it moves locationswithin or without the LAN.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary computer hardwarecomponents that constitute a suitable environment within which theprinciples of the present invention may be implemented and operated.

Like reference numbers and symbols in the various drawings indicate likeelements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Mobile computers can gain wireless access to network resources throughthe use of a Wireless Network Interface Card (WNIC). The WNIC'scommunicate with each other through radio waves, and some vendors canprovide cards at a transmission rate as high as 11 Mbps, which is equalto or better than a thin Ethernet connection which typically transmitsat 10 Mbps. The WNIC works in two modes: infrastructure mode and ad hocmode.

In the infrastructure mode, a WNIC communicates with the network throughAccess Point (AP) devices. The AP device can communicate in both thewireless radio wave environment and the traditional Ethernetenvironment. Multiple WNIC's can communicate with each other through APdevices. In the ad hoc mode, the WNIC's can communicate with each otherdirectly, but they cannot communicate with computers that have onlyEthernet adapters. Operating in either mode, a WNIC provides a truewireless network access capability for mobile computers.

FIG. 1 illustrates network environments in which the method andapparatus of this invention can be used to reconfigure parameters as amobile unit changes locations. In the implementation shown, a wirelessnetwork 100 consists of two cells, cell 110 and 112. In oneimplementation, the wireless network 100 is compliant with the Instituteof Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, whichallows for wireless integration with wired IEEE 802.3 Ethernet networksusing devices called access points or base stations. The fundamentalbuilding block of the 802.11 architecture is the cell, also known as thebasic service set (BSS) in 802.11 parlance. A cell typically includesone or more wireless stations and an access point. For example, cell 110includes two wireless stations 114 and 116 and an AP device 118, andcell 112 includes the wireless stations 122 and 124 and an AP device120. The nodes, or wireless stations, and the access point devicecommunicate amongst themselves using the IEEE 802.11 wireless MACprotocol. Multiple AP devices may be connected together, either througha wired Ethernet or another wireless channel, to form a so-calleddistribution system (DS). The DS appears to upper level protocols (e.g.,IP) as a single 802 network, in much the same way that a bridged, wired802.3 Ethernet network appears as a single 802 network to the upperlayer protocols. Here, the AP device 118 and AP device 120 are connectedto the ports of hub 126, which is connected to LAN 128 and then toInternet 130. Hub 126 may support other computers not in network 100,such as independent server 148.

In a typical wireless computer network environment, nodes within thenetwork are connected to one or more AP devices, such as WL 400 WirelessLAN Hardware Access Point available from Compaq Computer Corporation, toform one or more cells of wireless LAN coverage. IEEE 802.11 stationscan also group themselves together to form an ad hoc network—a networkwith no central control and with no connections to the outside world.Here, the network is formed “on the fly,” simply because there happen tobe mobile devices that have found themselves in proximity to each otherand sharing a mutual need to communicate without a pre-existing networkinfrastructure (e.g., a pre-existing 802.11 BSS with an AP) in thelocation. An ad hoc network might be formed, for example, when peoplewith laptops meet together in a conference room, a train, or a car, andwant to exchange data in the absence of a centralized AP. There has beena tremendous recent increase in interest in ad hoc networking, ascommunicating portable devices continue to proliferate.

In the infrastructure mode, an AP device typically includes atransceiver for communicating with at least one node in the wirelessnetwork. Once a reliable link between the AP device and the node isestablished, the node has access to the resources such as email, theInternet, file servers, printers, in the network. The principles of thisinvention will also apply to other types of networks, such as a homearea network (HAN) 132. For example, the wireless station 124 can betaken away from the network 100 in the office to an employee's home, orHAN 132. The HAN 132 is a home network of two computers, wirelessstation 124 and desktop 134. In one implementation, wireless station 124is wirelessly connected to AP device 136, forming cell 138. The APdevice 136 is connected to the desktop 134 by cables 140 and 142 (e.g.,Ethernet or unshielded twisted pair (UTP)) and through hub 144.Alternatively, desktop 134 and wireless station 124 can communicate inthe ad hoc mode without hub 144 using WNICs as software versions of APdevices. While desktop 134 may provide server services for HAN 132, thetwo computers may also be connected as a peer-to-peer network, sharingcable modem 146 connecting HAN 132 to the Internet 130.

It should be noted that this implementation of the invention isdescribed in terms of a network comprising AP devices connected to theInternet; however, principles of this invention can also be implementedin a network without AP devices and/or a hub, or a network not connectedto the Internet.

FIG. 2 illustrates the communication path from a configuration module200 to the driver of a WNIC 206 plugged into wireless station 124. Thedriver 204 acts like a translator between the WNIC 206 and configurationmodule 200. Each WNIC 206 has its own set of specialized commands thatonly its driver 204 knows. In contrast, most programs, includingconfiguration module 200 accesses hardware devices by using genericcommands. The driver 204, therefore, accepts generic commands fromconfiguration module 200 and then translates them into specializedcommands for the WNIC 206. User library 202 contains specially writtenfunctions for configuration module 200. In one implementation, UserLibrary 202 is a dynamic link library.

FIG. 3 illustrates a dialog box 300 that appears on the screen ofwireless station 124 after a user moves the physical location of station124 to outside of wireless network 100. Prior to establishing a link, aprofile descriptor must be set and the user may manually enter differentprofiles by pushing the Add button 316 to connect to dialog boxes 400and 450 of FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) respectively before starting theautomatic configuration module 200 to reconfigure the WNIC hardware andnetwork parameters for connecting to a new host. Similarly the user mayuse the Remove button 318 to remove a profile, or the Edit/View button320 to edit a profile. The user may also force connection to a profilehighlighted in the Location Listing 324 section by pushing the Applybutton 322. Each profiled AP device in the profile database is shown inthe Location Listing section 324. The project management may give abrief description of the location of the AP device to be associated withthe AP device's Single Session Identification (SSID).

Dialog box 300 shows the connection status of the current connection.The name of the current SSID 302 is Dreamspace, representing the stringthat uniquely describes an AP device currently in use. In order for agroup of AP devices to work together, they must each have unique SSID.In one implementation, each AP device will utilize one channel betweenthe numbers 1 and 11. In the example shown here, AP device Dreamspace isshown in box 306 to operate in channel 7. The choice of the channel ofan AP device is set by the administrator of the AP device.

Box 308 represents the transfer speed at which the current AP is talkingto the client. Normally, the transfer speed can be 1, 2, 5.5, or 11 Mbps(mega bits per second). Basically the farther the AP device is from theclient, the weaker the incoming signals are and the slower the speedbecomes. The AP devices can automatically reduce the speed when thesignals can no longer be transmitted at the current speed effectively.The client can choose “Auto” as the value of transfer speed in box 308to allow automatic speed selection by the AP device. Alternative, theclient can fix the speed by setting a value of box 308 to command the APdevice to communicate at a fixed speed.

The quality of the current link is shown in box 312 as a percentagevalue; 0% implies that there is no connection. Similarly, the strengthof incoming signals is shown in box 314 as a percentage value.

In one implementation, the system provides a software utility thatconstantly scans the wireless network environment for the presence of anew change. The software utility may reside in configuration module 200.The utility automatically reconfigures the wireless hardware parametersand network configuration parameters in a node when the utility detectschanges in the network environment. The automatic switching is madepossible by the introduction of profiles. The utility selects the mostdesirable working profile provided by the user for new parameters whenan existing profile is no longer compatible. This invention also maysupport power saving mode, the status of which is shown in box 306. Thewireless AP devices have the ability to run in power saving mode to stoptransmitting anything unless there is outgoing data or an incomingsignal from the AP device. This mode prolongs battery life.

Each profile will enable the WNIC to establish a connection with thefirst compatible AP device in the network located by the WNIC. In oneimplementation, the AP device is located by an autosensing componentthat transmits profile parameters and waits for verification bycompatible AP devices. For each profile, a set of hardware andsoftware/network parameters will be entered into the profile database.Profiles within the profile database may be prioritized or placed insequential order. Hardware parameters include, but not limited to, SSID,channel, network type, network translation, encryption status, etc.Dialog box 400 can be used to enter hardware parameters as is shown inFIG. 4(A).

Dialog box 400 provides box 400 for the user to associate a unique namewith an AP device. Box 402 provides a brief description of the locationof the AP device, such as at home or in office X. The user can identifythe connection as to an AP device in infrastructure mode in circle 406,or to another wireless card in ad hoc mode in circle 408. Transfer speedsupported is specified in box 410, and translation status in box 410.Box 410 refers to the encapsulation of the header in the networktransport layer. When you transmit a continuous stream of data over thenet, such as a file, it is broken into many small chunks of data, suchas 1514 bytes each. Each chunk is referred to as a packet. Each packetwill contain a header to describe the source, destination, routing,protocol and data. Encapsulation or translation describes the standardused the wrap the header. The sample value provided in box 412 isRequest for Comments (RFC) 1042. Encryption of data is supported if box414 is selected.

Software/network parameters that can be specified by the user include,but are not limited to, IP address, network mask, and DNS setting.Network parameters are entered into the profile database by filling indialog box 450 of FIG. 4(B). This invention supports dynamic IP addressassigned by a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server (box462), or a permanent IP address assigned by the network administrator(box 466). The IP address is written as four sets of numbers separatedby periods, for example 192.168.40.3 of box 452. The Subnet mask followsthe same format, for example 255.0.0.0 in box 454. The subnet mask helpsto identify the computer on the Internet and is determined in part bythe IP address value in box 452. The identification of the defaultgateway is entered into box 456 to identify the device on the networkthat facilitates communication with the Internet 130. The Domain NameSystem (DNS) translates host name in box 458 and domain name in box 460into the numeric IP address. DNS service search order is shown in box464.

This invention addresses the complicated issues of detecting the currentwireless network environment and configuring new wireless hardware andnetwork parameters. The detection of the wireless network environment isaccomplished by introducing an auto-sensing algorithm. The establishmentof a new wireless hardware and network configuration is done through aprofile based user/AP device management system. The flow chart of FIG. 6illustrates how the autosensing algorithm works with the user profilemanagement system to achieve the dynamic reconfiguration effects, iscomposed of the checking processes in the left column of the flow chart.

The autosensing algorithm starts (step 500) by establishing (step 502) aconnection to a selected AP device by sending the parameters associatedwith the AP device to the driver and issuing a soft boot command to thedriver. The selection process may be automatic according to thepriorities set in the profile database in one implementation, or theselection process may be done manually by highlighting one of theselections available under the Location Listing section 324 in otherimplementations. The system will step through the parameters stored inthe associated profile in the profile database and communicate with thenetwork based on the selected profile. If the communication issuccessful, the system will use that profile as the currentconfiguration. Otherwise, it will go to the next profile (step 506) andrepeat the same process by going back to step 502. If the system isstill connected to the same network/AP device (step 508) as prior totaking the establishing step, and the link quality is still good (step510), the system sleeps, in one implementation, for three seconds beforechecking the link quality again. If the link quality is not good, thesystem returns to step 502 to try to establish another connection.

If, on the other hand, the connection is now to a different AP device,the TCP/IP settings of the location associated with this AP device areexamined (step 514) to reconfigure current network settings. If theTCP/IP settings are static (step 516), the Dynamic Host ConfigurationProtocol (DHCP) incorporates a much more robust dialogue during leasenegotiation. DHCP has seven possible message types that can be usedduring the IP address assignment sequence. When a DHCP device, such aswireless station 124, attaches itself to the network for the first time,it broadcasts a DHCPDISCOVER packet. A DHCP server on the local segmentwill see the broadcast and return a DHCPOFFER packet that contains an IPaddress and other information. The servers may or may not conduct somesort of preliminary testing prior to offering the address to see if theaddress is already in use by another node somewhere. The client mayreceive multiple DHCPOFFER packets from any number of servers, so itmust choose between them, and broadcast a DHCPREQUEST packet thatidentifies the explicit server and lease offer that it likes the best.Assuming that the offer is still valid, the chosen server would return aDHCPACK that tells the client the lease is finalized. Therefore, thesystem waits for DHCPREQUEST packet on the Wireless card driver,releases current IP, and renews current IP by sending a DHCPACK packetto complete the renewing IP process. DHCP provides a framework forpassing configuration information to host computers on a TCP/IP networkand a detailed description of DHCP is provided in RFC 1541, available athttp://www.cis.ohio.state.edu/htbin/rfc/rfc1541.html, and the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

If the TCP/IP setting is dynamic (step 518), the system simply releasescurrent IP and renews current IP without going through the negotiationprocess.

Through this process of combining autosensing process and profile-basedAP management system, users will know when a new AP or networkconnection is available or the existing AP is not available anymore.

Referring to FIG. 6, it illustrates a block diagram of an exemplarycomputer (generally designated 600) that may provide a suitableenvironment within which the principles of the present invention may beimplemented and operated. Since the present invention is not limited toapplication in any particular processing environment, FIG. 6 isillustrative only. Moreover, the principles of the present invention areusable in processing environments other than computer systems, such asdata communication (e.g., wired and wireless public and privatecommunication networks) and multimedia networks. Exemplary computer 600illustratively includes processing circuitry 602 (e.g., at least oneconventional processor), conventional volatile memory such as randomaccess memory 605 and read only memory 610, CPU bus controller circuitry615, a non-volatile memory (e.g., a removable hard disk drive) 620controlled by I/O controller 625 via I/O bus 630. Exemplary CPU bus 615is suitably operative to associate processing circuitry 602, volatilememories 605 and 610, and I/O controller circuitry 625. While exemplaryI/O bus 630 is suitably operative to associate I/O controller circuitry625, non-volatile memory 620, display device 635 and keyboard 640, ormore of a plurality of conventional peripheral devices for communicationtherewith.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. A method for establishing communication between a wireless stationand a network, the method comprising: establishing a plurality ofnetwork profiles in a profile database of the wireless stationcomprising displaying a dialog box to a user, wherein the plurality ofnetwork profiles in the profile database is prioritized, wherein theuser manually enters the network profiles into the profile databaseusing the dialog box, wherein user entered data available to be enteredby the user comprises an SSID, a mode of operation selected from eitherad hoc or infrastructure, whether traffic should be scrambled forprivacy, encapsulation or translation to be used to wrap the header, IPaddress, subnet mask, and DNS setting; establishing a first link using anetwork profile of the network profiles; periodically examining thefirst link for a need to establish a new second link; determining thatlink quality of the first link indicates that the second link is needed;and establishing the second link comprising: selecting another networkprofile of the network profiles without requiring the user to manuallyselect the another network, profile; and reconfiguring parametersautomatically in accordance with the another network profile.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the first link is established with a firstaccess point device.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the second link isestablished with a second access point device.
 4. The method of claim 1wherein the establishing the second link further comprises issuing acommand to a driver of a wireless card of the wireless station toestablish the second link, wherein upon establishing the second link,the second link is an established link and the first link is a previouslink.
 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising periodically examiningthe established link for a need to establish a new link, the new linkbeing different from the established link.
 6. The method of claim 5further comprising pausing the periodic examination upon a determinationthat the link quality is good.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein theperiodic examination is paused for three seconds.
 8. The method of claim5 wherein the periodic examination is repeated once every three seconds.9. The method of claim 5 further comprising determining whether anaccess point device used for the established link is a same access pointdevice used for the previous link.
 10. The method of claim 9 whereinupon a determination that the access point device used for theestablished link is not the same access point device used for theprevious link, the method further comprising: determining whether theTCP/IP setting for the access point device used for the establishedsetting is static or dynamic.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein upon adetermination that the TCP/IP setting is static, the method furthercomprising: releasing a current IP; and renewing the current IP.
 12. Themethod of claim 10 wherein upon a determination that the TCP/IP settingis dynamic, the method further comprising: releasing a current IP;renewing the current IP; and receiving and returning packets from and toa wireless card driver.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the user usesthe dialog box to associate unique names to access point devices of thenetwork profiles.
 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the user uses thedialog box to enable power saving mode.
 15. The method of claim 1wherein the user uses the dialog box to set transfer speeds forcommunicating with access point devices of the network profiles.
 16. Anapparatus comprising: a processor; a memory comprising programinstructions, wherein execution of the program instructions by theprocessor generates a method comprising: establishing a plurality ofnetwork profiles in a profile database comprising displaying a dialogbox to a user, wherein the plurality of network profiles in the profiledatabase is prioritized, wherein the user manually enters the networkprofiles into the profile database using the dialog box, wherein userentered data available to be entered by the user comprises an SSID, amode of operation selected from either ad hoc or infrastructure, whethertraffic should be scrambled for privacy, encapsulation or translation tobe used to wrap the header, IP address, subnet mask, and DNS setting;establishing a first link using a network profile of the networkprofiles; periodically examining the first link for a need to establisha new second link; determining that link quality of the first linkindicates that the second link is needed; and establishing the secondlink comprising: selecting another network profile of the networkprofiles without requiring the user to manually select the anothernetwork profile; and reconfiguring parameters automatically inaccordance with the another network profile.
 17. The apparatus of claim16 wherein the establishing the second link, further comprises issuing acommand to a driver of a wireless card to establish the second link,wherein upon establishing the second link, the second link is anestablished link and the first link is a previous link.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 17 wherein the method further comprises periodicallyexamining the established link for a need to establish a new link, thenew link being different from the established link.
 19. The apparatus ofclaim 18 further comprising pausing the periodic examination for threeseconds upon a determination that the link quality is good.
 20. Acomputer program product comprising a nontransitory computer readablestorage medium comprising computer code comprising: a configurationmodule for establishing a plurality of network profiles in a profiledatabase of the wireless station comprising displaying a dialog box to auser, wherein the plurality of network profiles in the profile databaseis prioritized, wherein the user manually enters the network profilesinto the profile database using the dialog box, wherein user entereddata available to be entered by the user comprises an SSID, a mode ofoperation selected from either ad hoc or infrastructure, whether trafficshould be scrambled for privacy, encapsulation or translation to be usedto wrap the header, IP address, subnet mask, and DNS setting; theconfiguration module further for establishing a first link using anetwork profile of the network profiles; the configuration modulefurther for periodically examining the first link for a need toestablish a new second link; the configuration module further fordetermining that link quality of the first link indicates that thesecond link is needed; and the configuration module further forestablishing the second link comprising: selecting another networkprofile of the network profiles without requiring the user to manuallyselect the another network profile; and reconfiguring parametersautomatically in accordance with the another network profile.